Cleaning utensil with flexible peripheral regions

ABSTRACT

A cleaning head for a cleaning utensil, comprising a base member, a connector associated with the base member for attachment to a handle, and at least one flexible support member extending from the base member. The at least one flexible support member and the base member together define a common support surface for a cleaning cover.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This patent application relates generally to cleaning utensils, such asmops, dusters, sweepers, and the like, and more particularly, tocleaning utensils having a flexible cleaning head.

2. Related Art

Cleaning utensils, such as mops, dusters, sweepers, and the like, areknown in the art. These cleaning utensils are generally used to cleanrelatively flat surfaces, such as floors, walls, or the ceiling.Alternatively, these types of cleaning utensils can be used to cleanrelatively flat surfaces on appliances or other structures. Knowncleaning utensils generally have a cleaning head that is substantiallyrigid throughout. As a result, the rigid cleaning head often bumps intoobstacles located on the surface being cleaned. For example, the head ofa mop may bump into the legs of a table, chair, or other piece offurniture, possibly damaging the furniture, and/or making it difficultto clean certain parts of the floor. In addition, the rigid cleaninghead may prevent access to certain areas desired to be cleaned. Forexample, the rigid cleaning head on a conventional floor/wall duster maymake it difficult to dust in corners, and/or to dust crown molding,baseboard, or other contoured surfaces. Therefore, there remains a needin the art for cleaning utensils that overcome the shortcomings ofconventional solutions.

SUMMARY

According to an illustrative embodiment, this application relates to acleaning head for a cleaning utensil, comprising: a base member; aconnector associated with the base member for attachment to a handle;and at least one flexible support member extending from the base member,the at least one flexible support member and the base member togetherdefining a common support surface for a cleaning cover.

According to another illustrative embodiment, this application relatesto a cleaning utensil, comprising: a cleaning head comprising a basemember, and at least one flexible support member extending from the basemember, wherein the base member and the at least one flexible supportmember together define a common lower surface of the cleaning head; aconnector associated with the base member for attachment to a handle;and a cleaning cover attached to the cleaning head by the at least oneflexible support member, the cleaning cover extending over the commonlower surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of exemplary embodimentsof a cleaning utensil will be apparent from the following detaileddescription, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar,and/or structurally similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a cleaningutensil having a flexible cleaning head;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the cleaning utensil ofFIG. 1, shown with the cleaning cover separated from the cleaning head;

FIG. 3 is a perspective, partially-exploded view of the flexiblecleaning head of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a front view of a portion of the flexible cleaning head ofFIG. 1, shown with one of the flexible support members bent through anangle β with respect to the base member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of a cleaning utensil are discussed in detail below. Indescribing the embodiments, specific terminology is employed for thesake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited tothe specific terminology so selected. While specific embodiments arediscussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustrationpurposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize thatother components and configurations can be used without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a cleaning utensil 10 isshown. In the exemplary embodiment shown, cleaning utensil 10 is a mop,duster, or sweeper, which can be used, for example, when dry to dust orsweep debris from the floor, walls, ceiling, etc. Alternatively,cleaning utensil 10 can be used when wet, for example, to mop a floor.Cleaning utensil 10 is not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown inFIGS. 14, and can alternatively take the form of other types of cleaningutensils known in the art.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, cleaning utensil 10 can generally include acleaning head 12 connected to a handle 14, and a cleaning cover 16removably connected to the cleaning head 12, as will be described inmore detail below. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the cleaning head 12 caninclude a base member 20, and one or more flexible support members 22extending laterally outward from the base member 20. The base member 20and the flexible support member(s) 22 can be formed integrally, oralternatively can be separate parts fastened together, as shown.

The cleaning head 12 can also include a connector 24 adapted to couplethe base member 20 to the handle 14. In the exemplary embodiment shown,the connector 24 includes first and second hinges 26, 28, whichcooperate to allow the handle 14 to pivot both laterally andlongitudinally with respect to the base member 20, however, one ofordinary skill in the art will understand that other types ofconnectors, both pivoting and fixed, can be substituted for connector24.

Referring to FIG. 2, the base member 20 and the flexible support members22 extending therefrom can define a common support surface (e.g., thelower surface in the view of FIG. 2) that provides a support for thecleaning cover 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the flexible support members 22can be located on substantially opposite sides of the base member 20.Although two flexible support members 22 are shown, alternativeembodiments can have any number and arrangement of flexible supportmembers. For example, according to one embodiment, four flexible supportmembers 22 can originate from the base member 20 in a “four leafedclover” pattern.

The cleaning cover 16 can include a backing having first and secondpockets 30, with each pocket being dimensioned to fit over one of theflexible support members 22, as shown in FIG. 1. The backing and pockets30 can be constructed, for example, from nylon or another suitablefabric. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the pockets 30 can fitover the flexible support members 22, thereby securing the cleaningcover 16 over the common support surface. The cleaning cover 16 can beremoved (e.g., to clean or replace the cleaning cover 16) by bending oneor more of the flexible support members 22 out of the pockets 30. One ofordinary skill in the art will understand that alternative structurescan be implemented to secure the cleaning cover 16 to the cleaning head20. For example, resilient snaps, Velcro fasteners, elastic bands, orother known structures in the art can be used.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning cover 16 can comprise a fabricmaterial, such as chenille microfiber, cotton, fleece, etc. All or aportion of the cleaning cover 16 can be covered with fringe 50. Fringe50 can comprise loops or strands of material, or other shapes known inthe art. As shown in FIG. 2, the fringe 50 can extend around theperimeter 52 of the cleaning cover 16. Fringe 50 can also cover all or aportion of the bottom, cleaning surface of the cleaning cover 16.According to an exemplary embodiment, the perimeter 52 of the cleaningcover 16 can substantially match the common outer perimeter 54 definedby the base member 20, and the flexible support members 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, the common support surface can be generally planarwhen the cleaning head 12 is in a static state in which little or nooutside forces are being applied to it. However, as illustrated in FIG.4, when an external force is applied to one of the flexible supportmembers 22, for example, from a baseboard or other household obstacle,the support member 22 can resiliently bend with respect to the basemember 20. By “elastically” it is meant, for example, that the flexiblesupport member 22 will substantially return to its starting position(FIG. 2) after the external force is removed, preferably without anysubstantial damage or substantial degradation of the flexible supportmember

Referring to FIG. 3, the base member 20 can be formed from asubstantially rigid material, such as a plastic, metal, composite, orother known material. The flexible support member(s) 22 can be formedfrom an elastic material, such as an open- or closed-cell foam, apolymer, or other known elastic material. As shown in FIG. 3, eachflexible support member 22 can be substantially tubular incross-section, and can attach to the base member 20 by fitting over lugs32. Additionally or alternatively, the flexible support member(s) 22 canattach to the base member 20 using adhesives, fasteners, snaps, or otherknown attachment methods. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each flexiblesupport member 22 can be attached to the base member 20 via a pair ofthe lugs 32, thereby forming a closed loop with respect to the basemember 20, however, other shapes and configurations of the flexiblesupport member(s) 22 are possible. According to an alternativeembodiment, the base member 20 and the flexible support member(s) 22 canbe one integral member, formed, for example, from a polymer.

Referring to FIG. 4, the flexible member(s) 22 can bend through an anglewith respect to the base member 20. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, theflexible member 22 can define a substantially planar surface 40(extending out of the paper) and the base member 20 can define asubstantially 20 planar surface 42 (extending out of the paper). Bendingthe flexible support member 22 can create an angle β between the planarsurface 40 and the planar surface 42. As a result, the cleaning cover16, when mounted on the cleaning head 12, will have a bend correspondingto angle β, allowing cleaning cover 16 to clean in corners and otherangled surfaces, such as the intersection between a floor and baseboard.According to one exemplary embodiment, the angle β is at least about 30degrees. According to another exemplary embodiment, the angle β is atleast about 60 degrees. According to yet another exemplary embodiment,the angle β is at least about 90 degrees.

The embodiments illustrated and discussed in this specification areintended only to teach those skilled in the art the best way known tothe inventors to make and use the invention. Nothing in thisspecification should be considered as limiting in scope. All examplespresented are representative and non-limiting. The above-describedembodiments may be modified or varied, as appreciated by those skilledin the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that, within the scope of the claims and their equivalents,the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

1. A cleaning head for a cleaning utensil, comprising: a base member; aconnector associated with the base member for attachment to a handle;and at least one flexible support member extending from the base member,the at least one flexible support member and the base member togetherdefining a common support surface for a cleaning cover.
 2. The cleaninghead of claim 1, wherein the base member is substantially rigid.
 3. Thecleaning head of claim 1, wherein the connector is attached to the basemember and comprises at least one hinge.
 4. The cleaning cover of claim1, wherein the at least one flexible support member comprises a foam. 5.The cleaning head of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible supportmember comprises a polymer.
 6. The cleaning head of claim 1, wherein theat least one flexible support member has a substantially tubularcross-section.
 7. The cleaning head of claim 1, wherein the at least oneflexible support member defines a closed loop with respect to the basemember.
 8. The cleaning head of claim 1, wherein the at least oneflexible support member comprises first and second flexible supportmembers located on substantially opposite sides of the base member. 9.The cleaning head of claim 8, wherein the first and second flexiblesupport members cooperate to secure a cleaning cover to the cleaninghead.
 10. The cleaning head of claim 1, wherein the base member and theat least one flexible support member together define a substantiallyplanar surface.
 11. The cleaning head of claim 1, wherein the cleaningutensil is a mop, duster, or sweeper.
 12. The cleaning head of claim 1,further comprising a handle attached to the connector.
 13. The cleaninghead of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible support member iscapable of elastically bending through an angle of at least about 30degrees with respect to the base member.
 14. The cleaning head of claim1, wherein the at least one flexible support member is capable ofelastically bending through an angle of at least about 60 degrees withrespect to the base member.
 15. The cleaning head of claim 1, whereinthe at least one flexible support member is capable of elasticallybending through an angle of at least about 90 degrees with respect tothe base member.
 16. A cleaning utensil, comprising: a cleaning headcomprising a base member, and at least one flexible support memberextending from the base member, wherein the base member and the at leastone flexible support member together define a common lower surface ofthe cleaning head; a connector associated with the base member forattachment to a handle; and a cleaning cover attached to the cleaninghead by the at least one flexible support member, the cleaning coverextending over the common lower surface.
 17. The cleaning utensil ofclaim 16, wherein the cleaning cover comprises a fabric material. 18.The cleaning utensil of claim 16, wherein the cleaning cover comprises amicrofiber material.
 19. The cleaning utensil of claim 16, wherein thecleaning cover comprises a pocket adapted to receive the at least oneflexible support member.
 20. The cleaning utensil of claim 16, whereinthe cleaning cover defines a perimeter, and comprises fringe extendingaround at least a portion of the perimeter.
 21. The cleaning utensil ofclaim 16, wherein the at least one flexible support member comprisesfirst and second flexible support members located on substantiallyopposite sides of the base member, wherein the cleaning cover comprisesfirst and second pockets adapted to receive the first and secondflexible support members, respectively.
 22. The cleaning utensil ofclaim 16, wherein the base member is substantially rigid.
 23. Thecleaning utensil of claim 16, wherein the connecter comprises at leastone hinge.
 24. The cleaning utensil of claim 16, wherein the at leastone flexible support member comprises a foam.
 25. The cleaning utensilof claim 16, wherein the at least one flexible support member comprisesa polymer.
 26. The cleaning utensil of claim 16, wherein the at leastone flexible support member has a substantially tubular cross-section.27. The cleaning utensil of claim 16, wherein the cleaning utensil is amop, duster, or sweeper.
 28. The cleaning utensil of claim 16, furthercomprising a handle attached to the connector.
 29. The cleaning utensilof claim 16, wherein the at least one flexible support member is capableof elastically bending through an angle of at least about 30 degreeswith respect to the base member.
 30. The cleaning utensil of claim 16,wherein the at least one flexible support member is capable ofelastically bending through an angle of at least about 60 degrees withrespect to the base member.
 31. The cleaning utensil of claim 16,wherein the at least one flexible support member is capable ofelastically bending through an angle of at least about 90 degrees withrespect to the base member.